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The Vampire Diaries Review: Father Feeding, Suicidal Stefan and More

It's official: The Vampire Diaries has more layers than an onion. It has more twists than a bag of pretzels.

Food metaphors aside, "Blood Brothers" was an incredible, revealing episode. Viewers learned a lot more about the rich history between Stefan and Damon. These revelations were fast, furious, unexpected - and hardcore. In what way?

Stefan fed on his father. This bears repeating: Stefan fed on his father! Did anyone see that coming? Seriously, this show makes Twilight look like a Saturday morning cartoon.

The fact that Stefan essentially forced Damon to fully transition sheds so much light on this relationship. Each side holds a grudge against the other, but Stefan's is based on self-loathing as much as anything Damon himself has done. There must be thousands of human deaths over the years for which Stefan feels responsible.

Ironically, this new piece of information also makes Damon more, well, human. Of course he's bitter and angry. Katherine chose to turn his brother, and then that same brother caused Damon to live in a world in which Katherine does not exist or does not want him.

Faced with his guilt, Stefan wanted to die. This provided a well-written contrast with Damon's desire 146 years ago: the latter didn't wish to go on because his love was dead (or so he thought); while Stefan wished to end his life even though Elena was begging him not to.

In a heartfelt explanation of his daily struggle, Stefan said:

If I just give myself over to the blood, I can make that pain stop. Every day, I fight that. | permalink

Who would think that a show about vampires would deliver this kind of character depth?

Naturally, Elena convinced Stefan to keep fighting - but will their relationship ever be the same? Not only does Elena know some damaging information about Stefan now, but she has a new understanding of Damon. I assume everyone took note when he came home, sat on the couch and casually put Elena's feet on his lap?

This relationship is growing stronger, just as Damon is becoming a more sympathetic character. Delena lovers out there must be celebrating.

Others notes and observations from a terrific episode:

I spoke too soon last week when I criticized the show for abruptly ending the tomb-free vampire storyline. Looks like Uncle John is keeping an eye on these blood suckers, who are still very much around. But what is his end game?

Tough break for Anna. It can't be easy to watch your mother die... for the second time. Does this mean she'll leave town now in anger? Or stick around and seek out Pearl's killer?

I'm not sure which is funnier: Damon referring to Alaric as "Ric" to his face, or as "the teacher" when talking to Elena about him.

After all that talk and hype over Isobel, it was a bit anticlimactic for her to simply show up at Mystic Grill and say hello to Alaric. Still, I'm certainly excited to see her impact on everyone in town.

What did you think of "Blood Brothers?" Sound off now, as we list a series of Vampire Diaries quotes from the hour:

Damon: You brood too much... My actions, they belong to me. I own them. | permalink

Damon: What did you think you were gonna find? Isobel with a cigar and slippers? | permalink

Alaric: Can we not kill anyone tonight, please? Damon: You just brought me along for my company? | permalink

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ANGEI•October 11, 2012 19:05

Cuando sale la cuarta temporada y en q canal

Marina•July 07, 2010 21:12

Very good. I'm going to start watching this show. Everyone tells me how good it is. I first heard about it on this website for a movie called The Incubus. The movie is also about vampires, but a different kind of vampires, so it has a nice twist. Definitely worth checking out! http://bit.ly/ahKeh7

Jay•May 01, 2010 17:04

@anna - I hope its possible! But for some reason its feels like the writers killed Pearl because they couldn't go ahead with her character. Even if she would have lived, she was skipping town so I doubt we'd see much of her anyways... I guess now they have reason to at least keep Anna around...

anna•May 01, 2010 05:11

do you think there's a way a witch could bring peral back to life?? I want her BACKK!! nad harper too, he was sweet, a good kid!

Tracy•April 30, 2010 20:49

IMO, Stefan taking his father's blood doesnt show how horrible he is or wanting revenge but just shows as someone in transition unable to control their urges and the hunger taking over their body and actions. As we saw when Vicki was turned and how fast she moved over Logan's body with the sight of blood. It could have been anyone with an open wound and Stefan prolly would have still done the same thing. Also, Stefan doesn't need to man up as he is the only mature one b/w him and his brother. Stefan took responsibility for his brother's actions for the past 145 yrs when Damon refused to care. Damon blamed his bro for Katherine's actions and spent all this time taking his anger out on Stefan. And Stefan took it becuase he thought Damon blamed him for getting Katherine caught not cus Katherine turned them both.

Dawn•April 30, 2010 18:26

BTW, I agree, I don't think Pearl should have been killed off by being staked thru the heart by creepy Uncle John. She should have stayed around with Anna to help Damon and Stefan fight Uncle John. Harper's character hadn't really been delevoped enough to be missed and he easn't really attached to any other character. Now Anna is all alone and after trying to get her mother released from the tomb for over a century, it was heartbreaking to see her be killed off so soon. I hope Caroline gets killed off, she is really annoying.

Dawn•April 30, 2010 18:20

I felt a bit let down after last nights episode. Maybe, after all that OMG eyesex D/E were having during the Mystic Falls dance I was expecting something more between them on this episode, but the feet on the lap thing was super special. I feel really sad for Damon. Not only was Stefan, Katherines first choice back in the 1800's, but now he has to see history repeating with Stefan now being Elana's first choice. I am even more of a Delena fan than ever now as I really want to see Damon being finally able to get some true love I believe he deserves to turn him in to a more humane person. IMO he has all of this bitterness and voiolence in his personality because of all the rejection he has suffered.

Bee•April 30, 2010 16:50

I'm so disappointed by Pearl's death!

BDinsmore•April 30, 2010 16:01

Did not see the "Stefan feeding on his dad" thing coming!! Creepy to say the least. I like the "couch" scene. It was like a small confirmation of Damon and Elena's dance last week, which was too HOT!! I don't think I can be a bench warmer on Team Stefan anymore. He is just to melodramatic. He needs to just man up and be REAL vampire. Alaric needs to let Isobel go for real. After seeing next weeks preview, she clearly doesn't want to be with him. Poor dude. At least he got the Gilbert "anti-death" ring out of the deal.

Vamp_girl•April 30, 2010 15:51

I thought last night's episode was amazing! It definitely showed more insight on Stefan && Damon's character...and how they "bonded" through the years! Seeing Stefan feed on his Dad was crazy. Exactly, like @saarele said: Now we see what Stefan is capable of, but just because he did that does not make him a bad person. I mean their Dad killed BOTH of them!! REVENGE!! =P I'm very interested to see what Isobel's plan is. How long has she been in Mystic Falls? And why didn't she want anything to do with Elena, but now she does?? Uncle Jon is definitely working with Katherine! What is her motive?! When will she show her face? Probably not this season! Cannot wait for next Thursday!!